The Entertainment Software Association is opposing new legislation in California that would require developers of online games that are shutting down to give lengthy notice beforehand, offer refunds, and make their games playable offline.
Introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, Assembly Bill 1921 would require game developers to “communicate specified information to purchasers and prospective purchasers of a digital game 60 days before the operator ceases to provide services.” Once that server-closure day arrives, the studio would have to offer “an alternate version of, a patch or update to, or a refund for, the game.”
Its aims generally align with the goals of Stop Killing Games, an online game preservation movement that has gained traction over the past year. It also comes in the wake of high-profile live-service game failures like Concord and Highguard, which were abruptly taken offline and delisted shortly after launch.
If this bill were passed, it would at the very least entitle Californian residents to full refunds and ample notice of a server shutdown. The ESA, a trade association representing many of the industry’s largest developers, has voiced opposition to Assembly Bill 1921, citing the harsh realities of live-service game development and how the bill’s proposed requirements would take time and resources away from creating new content.
“Many games depend on evolving technology, licensed content, and online systems that change over time,” the ESA said in a statement provided to ABC 10. “Assembly Bill 1921 could force developers to spend limited time and resources keeping old systems running instead of creating new games, features, and technology. In the end, this policy doesn’t reflect how games actually work today. This bill sets strict rules that could ultimately mean fewer new and innovative experiences for players.”
As of now, Assembly Bill 1921 hasn’t become law, but it’s worth keeping an eye on whether it does take effect by January 1, 2027, and how the ESA will react if that happens.
